Behind the Bastards Part One: Daryl Gates: The Man Who Invented SWAT Teams and DARE
18 snips
Oct 21, 2025 
Bridget Todd, a journalist and co-host of the podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet, dives deep into the controversial legacy of LAPD chief Daryl Gates. They discuss how Gates pioneered SWAT and D.A.R.E., shaping modern policing. Bridget shares nostalgic yet critical memories of D.A.R.E., while Robert critiques its flawed messaging. The conversation touches on Gates' challenging upbringing, his paradoxical relationship with police, and the influence of Chief William Parker in his rise through the LAPD's ranks.
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Architect Of Militarized Policing
- Daryl Gates is credited as a principal architect of U.S. police militarization and modern SWAT units.
- He also created DARE and influenced police culture, shaping nationwide policing tactics.
DARE Memories In School
- Bridget Todd recalls being forced into DARE assemblies during school, wasting class time on police-led anti-drug performances.
- Gates' DARE program became a widely adopted school fixture despite limited effectiveness.
Poverty Shame Shaped Politics
- Gates' childhood shame about relying on social programs helped shape his later conservative law-and-order views.
- Early poverty produced resentment that influenced his policing philosophy.
